COVER 2231612 - Caterpillar

3176 (2YG,7LG) Truck Engines;
3406B (8TC, 5YG, 2EK,, 4CK) (PEEC) Truck EnginesPrograming Caterpillar electronic controls and performing interactive diagnostics on Caterpillar engines, can only be done with Caterpillar approved service tools. Any manufacturer that implies an ability to program Caterpillar electronic controls or to perform interactive diagnostics on Caterpillar engines is implying capabilities that can only be performed by Caterpillar approved service tools.
When truck engine manufactures began building electronically controlled engines in the late 1980's, each manufacturer designed and built their electronic controls to work only with their proprietary service tools.
In order to improve communications between electronic controls and other electronic devices (such as service tools and smart dash boards), the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) introduced two data communications standards. One, J1587, titled "Serial Data Communications Between Microcomputer Systems in Heavy Duty Vehicle Applications ", Recommended Practice, January 1986. The second, J1708, titled "Electronic Data Interchange Between Microcomputer Systems In Heavy Duty Vehicle Applications ", Recommended Practice, January 1988.
Caterpillar electronically controlled engines comply with both standards. The service information available to nonproprietary service tools is comparable to the information available through the engine diagnostic lamp utilizing a flash code. Interactive diagnostics and programing are proprietary functions that can only be preformed by Caterpillar approved service tools.
Any electronic service tool conforming to these standards can read "Free Access" information from any manufactures electronic control that similarly complies with these standards. But, these standards make no provision for programming an electronic control, or for providing the type of diagnostic capabilities found in most proprietary service tools.
In the second quarter of 1992 Caterpillar will release a Caterpillar specific cartridge for an industry equivalent service tool. This service tool will be a maintenance level tool that approximates the functions of the DDT (see chart for comparison). Full service TEPS dealers will still need an ECAP to provide complete service for Caterpillar electronic truck engines. Any new service tool that performs proprietary programing and diagnostic functions on Caterpillar electronically controlled engines will be preceded by a Tool Announcement and a Truck Engine News article explaining the tools capabilities.